The best “Doctor Who” speeches of all time, ranked
- - The best “Doctor Who” speeches of all time, ranked
Dana Schwartz, Devan Coggan, Kevin JacobsenNovember 23, 2025 at 8:30 PM
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Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor in the ‘Doctor Who’ episode ‘The Zygon Inversion’; Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor in the ‘Doctor Who’ episode ‘The Time of the Doctor’; Tony Curran as Vincent van Gogh in the 'Doctor Who’ episode ‘Vincent and the Doctor’
Fans flock to Doctor Who for many reasons, including its charismatic leads, the time-traveling narrative device, and its playful dabbling in multiple genres. But we believe the secret sauce that's kept Doctor Who as one of our most enduring shows is its exploration of the human condition, fearlessly tackling issues like war and politics that affect our world today through an entertaining, earnest lens.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the many speeches featured on the show over the years. From emotionally impactful character moments to impassioned life lessons, these are the moments that make Doctor Who such a treasured part of so many Whovians' lives.
Ahead, EW ranks the top 25 favorite speeches from the show's storied history.
25. "Look at my girl. Look at her go." (From "The Doctor's Wife")
BBC AMERICA Suranne Jones as Idris and Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor on 'Doctor Who'
"Fear me. I've killed hundreds of Time Lords."
"Fear me. I've killed all of them."
This episode in which we get to see the TARDIS come into herself is a gem, and even though this scene — where the Doctor (Matt Smith) defeated House and said goodbye to Idris (Suranne Jones) — isn't much of a speech per se, we get the music and enough memorable turns of phrase to keep it on the Great Speech roster. —Dana Schwartz
24. "I'm the Doctor." (From "The Voyage of the Damned")
BBC AMERICA David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor on 'Doctor Who'
"I'm the Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I'm from the planet Gallifrey in the Constellation of Kasterborous. I'm 903 years old, and I'm the man who is going to save your lives and all 6 billion people on the planet below. You got a problem with that?"
Loves giving us his resume, our boy does. The full introduction is always a magical moment. Maybe not the most lyrical, but damn if it isn't satisfying. —D.S.
23. "Have a fantastic life." (From "The Parting of the Ways")
BBC AMERICA Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor on 'Doctor Who'
"Have a good life. Do that for me, Rose. Have a fantastic life."
Goodbyes are always meaningful. After the Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) sends the TARDIS out with Rose (Billie Piper) to keep her safe, he communicates via hologram to say farewell, and let the TARDIS die. And, of course, to be fantastic. —D.S.
22. "Good things and bad things" (From "Vincent and the Doctor")
Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor and Karen Gillan as Amy Pond on 'Doctor Who'
"The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don't always soften the bad things, but vice versa, the bad things don't necessarily spoil the good things or make them unimportant."
What could have felt like a hokey speech about the balance of life is one of the most transcendent moments in the series, with Matt Smith delivering this poignant message to a heartbroken Amy (Karen Gillan), who feels guilty over not being able to save Vincent Van Gogh's (Tony Curran) life. —Kevin Jacobsen
21. "I think that's a hell of a bird." (From "Heaven Sent")
BBC AMERICA Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor on 'Doctor Who'
"There's this emperor, and he asks the shepherd's boy how many seconds in eternity. And the shepherd's boy says, 'There's this mountain of pure diamond. It takes an hour to climb it and an hour to go around it, and every hundred years a little bird comes and sharpens its beak on the diamond mountain. And when the entire mountain is chiseled away, the first second of eternity will have passed.' You may think that's a hell of a long time. Personally, I think that's a hell of a bird."
In a brilliant, mind-bending episode for which Peter Capaldi is almost entirely alone, his final speech (or really, monologue) as he punches through the diamond wall brought a new type of empowerment for the Doctor. He is not rallying the troops or scaring off an enemy; he is speaking directly to himself and being brave without an audience. —D.S.
20. "I believe in her!" (From "The Satan Pit")
BBC AMERICA David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor on 'Doctor Who'
"I've seen fake gods and bad gods and demigods and would-be gods. And out of all that, out of that whole pantheon, if I believe in one thing… just one thing… I believe in her!"
Sure, the CGI is silly, but the Doctor going up against basically THE DEVIL is pure Doctor Who magic. —D.S.
19. Twelve's regeneration (From "Twice Upon a Time")
BBC AMERICA Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor on 'Doctor Who'
"Never be cruel. Never be cowardly. And never ever eat pears! Remember...hate is always foolish. And love...is always wise."
Capaldi went back through some of his greatest hit sentiments in his swan song. This was the Doctor being quirky, but still poignant. A.k.a., being the Doctor. —D.S.
18. "I do not know who I am." (From "The Christmas Invasion")
BBC AMERICA David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor on 'Doctor Who'
"Look at these people, these human beings. Consider their potential! From the day they arrive on the planet, blinking, step into the sun, there is more to see than can ever be seen, more to do than — no, hold on. Sorry, that's The Lion King…"
This was the moment, in his very first episode, that made it obvious David Tennant was born to play the Doctor. He's funny, confident, sexy, flirtatious, bumbling — everything you want in an alien philosopher-king. —D.S.
17. "Fear makes companions of all of us." (From "Listen")
BBC AMERICA Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald on 'Doctor Who'
"Because didn't anybody ever tell you? Fear is a superpower. Fear can make you faster and cleverer and stronger."
Paradox be damned, Clara (Jenna Coleman) came back to a child Doctor and taught him that he could be afraid without being cruel or cowardly. (The Doctor's earlier speech on this sentiment is equally great.) —D.S.
16. "No weapons! No defense! No plan!" (From "Bad Wolf")
BBC AMERICA Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor on 'Doctor Who'
"I'm going to rescue her! I'm going to save Rose Tyler from the middle of the Dalek fleet, and then I'm going to save the Earth, and then, just to finish off, I'm going to wipe every last stinking Dalek out of the sky!"
Christopher Eccleston's brief stint might be lacking when it comes to bombastic Doctor moments, but standing up to a fleet of Daleks is a pretty good one. —D.S.
15. "Be a Doctor." (From "Face the Raven")
BBC AMERICA Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald on 'Doctor Who'
"You're going to be alone now, and you're very bad at that. You're going to be furious and you're going to be sad, but listen to me: Don't let this change you. No, listen. Whatever happens next, wherever she is sending you, I know what you're capable of. You don't be a warrior. Promise me. Be a Doctor."
Capaldi's Doctor really brought out the best in Clara. While she came off a bit one-note when paired with Matt Smith, Capaldi's run showed her as brave and impulsive, someone who could go head-to-head with the Doctor and tell him what he needed to hear. —D.S.
14. "It was patronizing." (From "Kill the Moon")
BBC AMERICA Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald on 'Doctor Who'
"Don't you ever tell me to take the stabilizers off my bike. And don't you dare lump me in with the rest of all the little humans that you think are so tiny and silly and predictable. You walk our Earth, Doctor, you breathe our air. You make us your friend, and that is your moon, too. And you can damn well help us when we need it."
Another great Clara–Twelfth Doctor moment, in which, possibly for the first time, the Doctor gets called out on the B.S. of his world-saving bombast. —D.S.
13. "You think you've broken me? You'll have to try harder than that." (From "The Timeless Children")
James Pardon/BBC Studios/BBC America Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor and Sacha Dhawan as the Master on 'Doctor Who'
"You've given me a gift of myself. You think that could destroy me? You think that makes me lesser? It makes me more. I contain multitudes, more than I ever thought or knew. You want me to be scared of it because you're scared of everything, but I am so much more than you."
One of Jodie Whittaker's most empowering moments, as the Doctor learned about a past she never knew she had. Instead of breaking her, the revelation made her stronger — and frightened the hell out of the Master. —Devan Coggan
12. "I will tell you a story." (From "The Rings of Akhaten")
BBC AMERICA Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor on 'Doctor Who'
"Oh, you like to think you're a god. You're not a god, you're just a parasite, eaten out with jealousy and envy and longing for the lives of others. You feed on them, on the memory of love and loss and birth and death and joy and sorrow! So… so… come on, then. Take mine."
Although this moment is a fan favorite, I think most of the work here is done by the music. It's a largely confusing, muddled episode, but nothing can't be saved by a children's voice and a choir. —D.S.
11. "I am TALKING." (From "The Pandoirca Opens")
BBC/BBC AMERICA
Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor on 'Doctor Who'
"Remember every black day I ever stopped you. And then, and then, do the smart thing.… Let somebody else try first."
Has there ever been a better mic-drop? —D.S.
10. "We're all stories in the end." (From "The Big Bang")
BBC AMERICA Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor on 'Doctor Who'
"I'll be a story in your head. But that's OK: We're all stories, in the end. Just make it a good one, eh? Because it was, you know, it was the best: A daft old man, who stole a magic box and ran away. Did I ever tell you that I stole it? Well, I borrowed it; I was always going to take it back. Oh, that box, Amy, you'll dream about that box. It'll never leave you. Big and little at the same time, brand-new and ancient, and the bluest blue ever. And the times we had, eh? Would've had. Never had. In your dreams, they'll still be there. The Doctor and Amy Pond… and days that never came."
Less of a speech and more of a bedtime story, the Doctor's goodnight to the young Amelia Pond (Caitlin Blackwood) is the perfect culmination of a beautifully plotted season. —D.S.
9. "The man that stops the monsters." (From "Flatline")
BBC AMERICA Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor on 'Doctor Who'
"And I think that you just don't care! I don't know if you are here to invade, infiltrate, or just replace us — I don't suppose it really matters now. You are monsters! That is the role you seem determined to play, so it seems I must play mine! The man that stops the monsters! I'm sending you back to your own dimension. Who knows? Some of you may even survive the trip."
The Doctor summed up his ethos and played the hero. —D.S.
8. TIE: "Like fire and ice and rage," and "The fury of the Time Lord." (From "Family of Blood")
BBC AMERICA David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor on 'Doctor Who'
"He's like fire and ice and rage. He's like the night, and the storm in the heart of the sun. He's ancient and forever. He burns at the center of time, and he can see the turn of the universe. And… he's wonderful."
"He never raised his voice. That was the worst thing… the fury of the Time Lord… and then we discovered why. Why this Doctor, who had fought with gods and demons, why he had run away from us and hidden. He was being kind."
This episode gets two brilliant speeches, neither from the Doctor. The first is from the young Tim Latimer (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), trying to convince poor John Smith to give up his human life to become the Doctor again. And then we get a voiceover from Brother Mine (Harry Lloyd), describing their punishments. Each equally chilling, each well-set in one of the best Doctor Who two-parters to date. —D.S.
7. "The last of the Time Lords." (From "The Waters of Mars")
BBC AMERICA David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor on 'Doctor Who'
"There are laws of time. Once upon a time, there were people in charge of those laws, but they died. They all died. Do you know who that leaves? Me! It's taken me all these years to realize the laws of time are mine, and they will obey me!"
A rare flare-up of genuine anger and hubris, a speech in which the Doctor wasn't the hero, but a boy who would soon learn his lesson. —D.S.
6. "I am an idiot!" (From "Death in Heaven")
BBC AMERICA Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor on 'Doctor Who'
"I am not a good man! And I'm not a bad man. I am not a hero. And I'm definitely not a president. And no, I'm not an officer. Do you know what I am? I am an idiot, with a box and a screwdriver. Passing through, helping out, learning. I don't need an army. I never have, because I've got them. Always them. Because love, it's not an emotion. Love is a promise."
For all of the strength of Capaldi's attack eyebrows, he evolved into the kindest, most sensitive Doctor. How ironic that the quirky Tennant would be the most ruthless? This is a beautiful moment for Capaldi's Doctor, and a perfect plot moment. —D.S.
5. "Just be kind." (From "The Doctor Falls")
BBC AMERICA Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor on 'Doctor Who'
"I do what I do because it's right! Because it's decent! And above all, it's kind! It's just that. Just kind. If I run away today, good people will die. If I stand and fight, some of them might live. Maybe not many, maybe not for long. Hey, you know, maybe there's no point in any of this at all. But it's the best I can do. So I'm going to do it. And I will stand here doing it until it kills me. And you're going to die too! Someday. How will that be? Have you thought about it? What would you die for? Who I am is where I stand. Where I stand is where I fall. Stand with me. These people are terrified. Maybe we can help a little. Why not, just at the end, just be kind?"
Here is Twelve at his best, confronting his best friends and worst enemies, and preaching what he's come to learn is more important than anything else. —D.S.
4. Van Gogh at the museum (From "Vincent and the Doctor")
BBC AMERICA Tony Curran as Vincent van Gogh on 'Doctor Who'
"Pain is easy to portray, but to use your passion and pain to portray the ecstasy and joy and magnificence of our world, no one had ever done it before. Perhaps no one ever will again. To my mind, that strange, wild man who roamed the fields of Provence was not only the world's greatest artist, but also one of the greatest men who ever lived."
If you watch this and don't tear up, I don't trust you. —D.S.
3. "Basically...run." (From "The Eleventh Hour")
BBC AMERICA Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor on 'Doctor Who'
"You're not the first to have come here. Oh, there have been so many. And what you've got to ask is, what happened to them? Hello. I'm the Doctor. Basically… run."
What an entrance! This clip shows, if nothing else, how unfairly good all Matt Smith's music was. I mean, how can you not get chills when he steps through all the other Doctors? —D.S.
2. Eleven's goodbye (From "The Time of the Doctor")
BBC AMERICA Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor on 'Doctor Who'
"We're all different people all through our lives, and that's okay, that's good. You've got to keep moving so long as you remember all the people that you used to be. I will not forget one line of this, not one day, I swear. I will always remember when the Doctor was me."
Meta and heartbreaking — as soon as Amy shows up, I'm in a puddle. —D.S.
1. The Doctor's war speech (From "The Zygon Inversion")
BBC AMERICA Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor on 'Doctor Who'
"When you've killed all the bad guys, and when it's all perfect and just and fair, when you have finally got it exactly the way you want it, what are you going to do with the people like you? The troublemakers. How are you going to protect your glorious revolution from the next one?"
There has never been a better representation of who the Doctor is or what this show is supposed to be. No big music cues, no exciting "I am the Doctor!" moments, no — just a beautifully written, expertly-executed speech that shows Capaldi's sublime ability as an actor, and the Doctor's fundamental importance as a character. —D.S.
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
